422 SERMONS UPON PSALM cxix. [Ser. XCVII.
and appetites, they should come to us as special evidences of God's love.
2. Afflictions are necessaiy to the best. Certain it is God will con- duct his people to glory, not only by his internal, but external pro- vidence. Now to humble us, to wean us from the world, there is need of afflictions : 1 Peter i. 6, ' Ye are in heaviness for a season, if need be.' We are wanton, vain, neglectful of God, unmindful of heavenly things ; if God did not put us under the discipline of the cross, our minds and hearts would be more alienated from God and lieavenly things : Ps. cxix. 67, ' Before I was afflicted I went astray.' Now, since the best need it, God will not be wanting in any part or point of necessary government to them.
3. That they may know the worth and benefit of God's word, and the comfort of it may be seen and felt by experience, how able it is to support lis, and to uphold a sinking heart under any trouble whatso- ever, Eom. XV. 4. In full prosperity, when we seem to live upon the creature, we know not the benefit of God's promise, nor how to live by faith ; as the use of bladders in swimming is not known while we are upon firm land. The word of God provideth comforts for the obedient, not only at the end of the journey, but for their support at present, while they are in the way. These comforts would be useless if never put upon the trial ; therefore none of God's children must look to be exempted : 1 Peter v. 9, ' All these afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.' Our condition is no harder than the rest of the saints of God that have passed through the world.
Secondly, David was ready to sink under his burden ; and so are other the people of God ready to perish, when they look to the bare afflictions. This may come : —
1. From the grievousness of the affliction, which staggereth and amazeth them : Ps. Ix. 3, ' Thou hast showed thy people hard things ; thou hast made us to drink of the wine of astonishment.' Their thoughts are confounded, as a man that has taken a poisonous potion. They know not to what hand to turn, are wholly dispirited, and put out of all comfort.
2. It comes from the weakness of the saints. There is some weak- ness and imbecility in the best, more than they are aware of ; as when David was ready to faint under the cross before troubles came. We are like unto Peter, we think we can walk upon the sea ; but some boisterous wind or other assaults our confidence, and then we cry out, ' Help, Master, we perish,' Mat. xiv. 30. We reckon only upon the sea, but do not think of the wind, and so our weakness is made evident by proof. Whence cometh this weakness ?
[1.] Partly because we look more to the creature than to God, and to our dangers than to the power that is to carry us through them : Isa. li. 12, 13, ' I, even I, am he that comforteth ihee : who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man that shall be made as grass ; and forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth ; and hast feared continually ever}^ day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy ? And where is the fury of the oppressor ? ' We that have the immortal and almighty
YeR. 92.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 423
God to be our protector and saviour, why sliould we be afraid of a frail, mortal man ?
[2.] If they look to God, yet God doth not seem to look to them. If a thin curtain be drawn between God and us, we are presently dismayed, as if he were wholly gone ; and because of our hardslii]is, question the love of God : Ps. Ixxvii. 9, ' Hath God forgotten to be gracious ? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies ?' Isa. xlix. 14, ' Zion hath said, The Lord hath forsaken me, my God hath for- gotten me;' though our condition be everyway consistent with the fatherly love of God : Heb. xii. 5, ' Have you forgotten the exhorta- tion which speaketh to you as children ? ' We are children, though under discipline ; and God is a father, though he frowneth as well as smileth.
[3.] Impatiency of delay ; if we question not his love, yet cannot tarry his leisure. Certainly it is very good to wait God's leisure ; though he seemeth asleep, he will awake for our help. Faith makes us like people that dig the pit, and wait for the rain to come down and fill it ; to lay the cloth, though we know not whence the provision will be sent. But the people of God have not always the strength of faith, and therefore faint, and are ready to perish : ' I said in my haste, I am cut off,' Ps. xxxi. 22.